‘Clean-up’ operation, day four: Caves used as militant hideouts destroyed in Sara Dargai

Border between FR Peshawar, settled areas sealed while police patrol the area.

PESHAWAR: Security forces destroyed several caves which were being used as hideouts by militants in Sara Dargai, Frontier Region (FR) Peshawar as the operation entered its fourth day on Sunday.

Locals told The Express Tribune Sambi Khel, Murad Khel and a few other villages remained under strict curfew for the fourth consecutive day and security forces had surrounded the area completely. Other parts of Kandao Asho Khel were not under a curfew but elders claimed the closure of roads by the police and security forces meant people could not exit the area.



“There is complete silence; we hear shots after every two or three hours coupled with maybe a small explosion. But there is no fighting or resistance from the militants’ side,” said one of the residents from Asho Khel.

According to the police, the border between FR Peshawar and the settled district had been sealed and and they were patrolling the area to ward off any untoward incident.

Before the operation Sambi Khel was the main centre for militants in the area who were headed by a commander, shared the police. For this reason, the entire operation was focused on Sambi Khel, explained officials. “Security forces found and destroyed several caves in Sara Dargai which were being used as hiding places by militants,” said a member of the police force.

Security forced destroyed the house of outlaw Awal Sher in Sambi Khel, using explosives. Sher is said to have joined hands with local militants.  According to a malik, forces “announced on loud speakers that certain militants were still hiding in Sambi Khel. If they do not surrender, a door-to-door search would be carried by the army.”

Published in The Express Tribune, July 8^th, 2013.